Sophie Marois, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology, has been awarded the Dennis William Magill Canada Research Award for her outstanding paper, “‘Remember, Reclaim, Heal’: Commemorating Anti-Muslim Violence in Canada, on the commemoration of anti-Muslim violence in Canada. The title of Marois’ work, “Remember, Reclaim, Heal”, reflects the slogan used by the Youth Coalition Combatting Islamophobia during a 2022 vigil in London, which honored the victims of a tragic attack and emphasized the ongoing fight against Islamophobia and the need for solidarity and healing.
The award, named after the late Professor Dennis Magill, a dedicated public sociologist and faculty member, is presented annually to the best dissertation or published paper on Canadian society by a Ph.D. student in the Department of Sociology. Dennis Magill, a longstanding professor in the department, was known for his commitment to community-based research and his extensive contributions to Canadian sociology. Throughout his career, he played a pivotal role in directing the sociology undergraduate program and the health studies program at University College. A passionate advocate for community engagement, Professor Magill was also involved in various boards and initiatives aimed at improving health and social justice, including his work with the Toronto Historical Board, Sherbourne Health Centre, and the Wellesley Institute, among others.
Marois’ paper, which focuses on the memorialization of two major anti-Muslim massacres in recent Canadian history, examines the 2017 Québec City mosque shooting and the 2021 vehicle-ramming attack in London, Ontario. These tragic events have sparked numerous commemorative efforts and public debates surrounding Islamophobia, far-right terrorism, hate crimes, and issues of national belonging and inclusion. In her research, Marois traces the annual commemorations of these attacks, drawing on sociological theories of memory and grief politics. She highlights how community-led remembrance efforts reflect both political recognition and the desire for repair in the aftermath of racially and religiously targeted violence. By analyzing the commemorative texts and media coverage between 2017 and 2022, Marois identifies two key political grammars of commemoration: commemoration as recognition and commemoration as repair. Her research reveals the significant challenges these grassroots efforts face in a climate of rising white nationalist and anti-Muslim violence, while also shedding light on the public's complex responses to these commemorative movements. Marois credits her involvement in the annual commemorations of the Québec City mosque massacre as the starting point for this important research. Over the years, she has forged meaningful connections with the youth organizers and commemorative leaders in both Québec City and London, whose work continues to inspire her research. Marois expresses her deep gratitude to these organizers for their ongoing commitment to honoring the victims and challenging Islamophobia in Canada.
The Dennis William Magill Canada Research Award will support Marois in furthering her research and continued efforts to bring attention to the politics of grief, memory, and solidarity within Canadian society. Her work adds a critical sociological perspective to the ongoing national conversation about Islamophobia, far-right extremism, and the struggle for justice and healing in the face of racially and religiously motivated violence.